Device for unlatching doors.



No. 655,764. Patented Aug. I4, I500;

E. DENNE.

DEVICE FOR UNLATCHING DOORS.

(Applicatio'n filed Apr. 14, 1900.) (No Model.)

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i rTED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

DEVICE FOR UNLATCHING DOORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,764, dated August 14, 1906.

Application filed April 14, 1900. Serial No- 12,830., (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI DENNE, carpenter, of the city of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented a certain new and useful Foot-Operated Device for Unlatching Doors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to devise si mple means whereby a door can be unlatched by the foot; and it consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter more specifically described and then definitely claimed.

The drawing represents a perspective view showing my invention applied to a door.

In the drawing like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the door, provided with an ordinary mortise-lock B. To the spindle operating the latch of this lock is secured a short crank-arm C. To the end of this crank-arm is pivoted one end of the connecting-rod D. The lower end of this connecting-rod is pivotally connected with a pedal. When made as shown in the drawing, this pedal takes the form of a lever E, provided with a foot-plate F. This lever is secured to a shaft G, journaled in the bottom rail of the door. To the other end of this shaft on the other side of the door is connected a similar lever and foot-plate. Asuitable bearing for the shaft is given by securing a metal plate, such as a, to the rail of the door at one or both sides thereof. both levers E maybe extended past the pivotpoint and provided with a counterbalancingweight H in case the ordinary spring of the latch is not sufiicient to maintain the parts in their normal position. Of course any form of spring engaging the lever might be used as a substitute for the weight.

From the constructions described it is evident that by placing the foot upon the footplate F the spindle of the lock may be turned and the door unlatched, so that a further pressure of the foot will cause the door to open, thus avoiding the necessity of operating the knobs of the look by hand. This will be found a great convenience in many cases when the hands are full or in any way engaged.

One or Behind the foot-plate in the drawing I show a metal plate secured to the door to prevent injury to the latter when the foot is placed on the foot-plate.

It will be observed that with the construc tion shown in the drawing only one crank and connecting-rod is required to enable the door to be unlatched from either side.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention isl. A door-unlatching device comprising a crank-arm secured to the spindle of a lock in combination with a connecting-rod pivotally connected with the crank-arm; a lever ful-' crumed on the door between its ends; a footplate secured to one end of the lever; and a counterbalancing-weight secured to the other, the connecting-rod being pivotally connected with the lever near the foot-plate, substan tially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A door-unlatching device comprising a crank-arm secured to the spindle of a lock in combination with a connecting-rod pivotally connected with the crank-arm a shaft journaled in the door; two levers secured to said shaft on opposite sides of the door, and a footplate formed on or secured to each lever, the connecting-rod being connected to one of the levers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A door-unlatching device comprising a crank-arm secured to the spindle of a lock in combination with a connecting-rod pivotally connected with the crank-arm; a shaft journaled in the door; two levers secured to said shaft on opposite sides of the door; a footplate formed on or secured to each lever, the connecting-rod being connected to one of the levers; and a counterbalancing-weight secured to the end of one of the levers which is secured to the shaft at a point between its ends, the fo0t-plate being secured to one end and the weight to the other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Winnipeg, Canada, April 2, 1900.

H. TURNBULL, JOHN GRAHAM. 

